Cars with diesel engines generally struggle to compete with their gasoline-powered counterparts, which have higher horsepower and accelerate faster. But diesel engines produce way more torque.
Torque plays an integral role in illustrating what a car can do. Torque is defined as a twisting force that causes an object to rotate. In cars, it is directly related to the ability of an engine to pull a load.
There are several reasons as to why a diesel engine produces more torque than a gasoline (petrol) engine. Here are few major reasons for higher torque production in diesel engines:
- The compression ratio of normal diesel engines is higher than that of its gasoline counterparts. It adds to the development of higher peak pressure inside the combustion chamber and, hence, on the crankshaft.
- Combustion: A gas engine compresses a fuel-air mixture and then ignites it with a spark. A diesel engine compresses air to such a high pressure and temperature that fuel gets ignited automatically with no need for a spark.
- Stroke Length: The piston stroke is longer in a diesel engine in order to compress the air more.
- Diesel fuel has lower calorific value and is denser than gasoline. Diesel also burns steadily and faster than gasoline. So, for a liter of fuel, you have more energy in diesel.
